In this episode of Behind the Numbers, hosts Marc Cohen and Rich Sweeney sit down with Gregg Majewski, CEO and founder of Craveworthy Brands, to unpack how a 28-month-old company grew to 18 brands, 4,300 employees, and over $300 million in systemwide sales.Gregg shares why culture must come before numbers, how he empowers franchisees to succeed, and why hospitality—not automation—remains the heart of the restaurant business. From Big Chicken with Shaquille O’Neal to Taffer’s Tavern, Gregg reveals the mindset and metrics that drive modern restaurant growth.Connect with Craveworthy (https://www.craveworthybrands.com)Connect with Gregg Majewski on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/greggmajewski/)

In this episode of Behind the Numbers, hosts Marc Cohen and Rich Sweeney sit down with Joshua Lacer Watkins, CFO of Ice Age Management Inc., a McDonald’s franchisee group operating more than 50 restaurants across North Carolina.Joshua shares how focusing on margins, cash flow, and operational KPIs drives sustainable growth and how tools like Restaurant365 empower both finance and operations teams to make smarter, faster decisions.Key insights include:• Why cash flow is king in restaurant operations• How technology improves financial transparency and decision-making• The growing role of fractional CFOs in the restaurant industry• How connecting financial data with real operations drives better results• The importance of empathy and communication between accounting and operations teams

World Pizza Champion Melissa Rickman pulls back the curtain on how Wholly Stromboli runs with the discipline of a national chain on just one (soon to be two) locations. Discover how her team drives food costs down to 18.5%, right-sizes staff from 48 to 38 employees, and has tracked more than 866,000 dough balls since 2010. From portion control with engraved scoops to AI-driven menu pricing, Melissa shows why treating a restaurant like a real business is the key to profitability and peace of mind. If you want your restaurant to scale—or simply survive—this is the playbook.Connect with Melissa* Visit Wholly Stromboli website (https://www.whollystromboli.com/)* Connect with Melissa Rickman on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissa-rickman-270b76b6/)* Wholly Stromboli on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/WhollyStromboli/)* Wholly Stromboli on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/wholly_stromboli/)Connect with the Show* Connect with Rich Sweeney on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/chefrichsweeney/)* Connect with Marc Cohen on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/marc-cohen-56b2424/)* R365 on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/restaurant365software/)* R365 on X (https://x.com/restaurant_365)* R365 on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/restaurant365-cloud-erp-for-restaurants)* R365 on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/restaurant365/)

California’s 2024 PAGA reform finally gives operators leverage if they do the work. Employment attorney Anthony Zaller (https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthonyzaller/) explains how proactive audits, supervisor training, updated policies, and documented corrective actions can cap certain penalties at 15%. We dig into why PAGA filings still exceed 10,000 a year, the $200 per-paycheck pay-stub risk, when to add HR support (25 employees) and bring it in-house (50), and how top operators use 15-minute labor matrices with schedule guardrails to manage rising wages. Practical steps, real numbers, and a clear playbook to turn legal risk into operational discipline.Connect with Anthony Zaller* Connect with Anthony on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthonyzaller/)* Visit Zaller Law's Website (https://zallerlaw.com/)* Follow Zaller Law on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/zallerlaw/)* Connect with Zaller Law on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/zallerlaw)* Follow Anthony Zaller on X (https://x.com/Anthonyzaller)* Watch The Legal Lineup on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@TheLegalLineup)* Follow Anthony Zaller on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/anthonyzaller)Connect with the Show* Connect with Rich Sweeney on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/chefrichsweeney/)* Connect with Marc Cohen on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/marc-cohen-56b2424/)* R365 on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/restaurant365software/)* R365 on X (https://x.com/restaurant_365)* R365 on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/restaurant365-cloud-erp-for-restaurants)* R365 on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/restaurant365/)

CFO and author Bruce Nelson breaks down how AI is changing the finance side of restaurants. From when to bring in a fractional CFO (hint: around $10M in revenue) to why one source of truth for numbers is essential, Bruce shares lessons from his career and vision for the future.Connect with Bruce Nelson* Connect with Bruce on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/bruce-nelson-295a47149/)* Visit Bruce's Website (https://www.brucelnelson.com/)Connect with the Show* Connect with Rich Sweeney on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/chefrichsweeney/)* Connect with Marc Cohen on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/marc-cohen-56b2424/)* R365 on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/restaurant365software/)* R365 on X (https://x.com/restaurant_365)* R365 on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/restaurant365-cloud-erp-for-restaurants)* R365 on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/restaurant365/)

What happens when you’re evicted from a 3,000-seat restaurant? If you’re Michael Ungaro of San Pedro Fish Market, you innovate, adapt, and scale…from a parking lot. In this episode of Behind the Numbers, Michael shares how knowing his numbers, leaning into tech like Restaurant365, and telling the right story helped turn disruption into growth.Connect with Michael Ungaro & San Pedro Fish Market* Connect with Michael Ungaro on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikeungaro/)* Connect with San Pedro Fish Market on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/san-pedro-fish-market-and-restaurant/posts/?feedView=all)* Follow San Pedro Fish Market on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/sanpedrofish/)* Check out Kings of Fish (https://kingsoffishmedia.com/) on Amazon PrimeConnect with the Show* Connect with Rich Sweeney on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/chefrichsweeney/)* Connect with Marc Cohen on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/marc-cohen-56b2424/)* R365 on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/restaurant365software/)* R365 on X (https://x.com/restaurant_365)* R365 on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/restaurant365-cloud-erp-for-restaurants)* R365 on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/restaurant365/)

Rick Miller and Max Prifogle from RLM Hospitality join Behind the Numbers to share the systems they use to create financially fluent operators. Learn how weekly soft closes, actual vs. theoretical reporting, and custom dashboards align managers with the business—and why the right bonus plan can unlock your team’s full potential.Connect with the Guests* Connect with Max Prifogle on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/maxprifogle/)* Connect with Rick Miller on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/rickleemiller/)* Visit RLM Hospitality website (https://rlmhospitality.com/)Connect with the Show* Connect with Rich Sweeney on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/chefrichsweeney/)* Connect with Marc Cohen on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/marc-cohen-56b2424/)* R365 on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/restaurant365software/)* R365 on X (https://x.com/restaurant_365)* R365 on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/restaurant365-cloud-erp-for-restaurants)* R365 on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/restaurant365/)

Hospitality finance veteran Philip Gay joins Marc Cohen and Rich Sweeney to break down what truly drives restaurant success. From building ES Capital’s QSR portfolio to investing in employee training at Paperchase, Philip shares how happy teams, operational scorecards, and AI-powered engagement fuel profitability. Plus, hear his timeless rule: people, product, and place drive profit.Connect with the Guest* Connect with Philip Gay on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/philip-gay-879198/)Connect with the Show* Connect with Rich Sweeney on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/chefrichsweeney/)* Connect with Marc Cohen on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/marc-cohen-56b2424/)* R365 on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/restaurant365software/)* R365 on X (https://x.com/restaurant_365)* R365 on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/restaurant365-cloud-erp-for-restaurants)* R365 on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/restaurant365/)

Jung Lee, VP of Supply Chain for Kura Sushi USA, sat down with Marc and Rich to share his expertise in inventory management and restaurant operations. He brings a unique background as a sushi chef and delves into Kura Sushi's expansion from Japan to the United States. This episode dives into innovative new technologies like robots in food delivery and what it takes to keep customers coming back. Be sure to subscribe to Behind the Numbers here on YouTube and everywhere you listen to podcasts!Connect with the Guest* Connect with Jung Lee on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/jung-h-lee/)* Connect with Kura Sushi on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/kura-sushi-usa/)* Follow Kura Sushi on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/kurasushi_usa/)* Visit Kura Sushi website (https://kurasushi.com/)Connect with the Show* Connect with Rich Sweeney on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/chefrichsweeney/)* Connect with Marc Cohen on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/marc-cohen-56b2424/)* R365 on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/restaurant365software/)* R365 on X (https://x.com/restaurant_365)* R365 on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/restaurant365-cloud-erp-for-restaurants)* R365 on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/restaurant365/)

In this episode of Behind the Numbers, Andrei Stern, co-founder of Suviche, shares the inside story of how he transformed a tiny, 10-seat Miami eatery into a thriving multi-location hospitality brand. Discover how rapid, daily communication, strategic use of data to overcome supply chain challenges, a transparent commission-based pay structure, and a sharp focus on menu specialization became key ingredients in Suviche’s success. Tune in to uncover the operational insights and strategic decisions behind this remarkable growth story.Connect with Andrei* Connect with Andrei Stern on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrei-stern-94844573/)* Visit Suviche Website (https://suviche.com/)* Follow Suviche on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/suviche/)* Follow Suviche on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/suviche/#)* Follow Suviche on X (https://x.com/suviche)Connect with the Show* Connect with Rich Sweeney on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/chefrichsweeney/)* Connect with Marc Cohen on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/marc-cohen-56b2424/)* R365 on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/restaurant365software/)* R365 on X (https://x.com/restaurant_365)* R365 on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/restaurant365-cloud-erp-for-restaurants)* R365 on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/restaurant365/)

Join hosts Marc Cohen and Rich Sweeney in this insightful episode of Behind The Numbers presented by Restaurant365, featuring Ken Baker. Ken reveals essential strategies for scaling restaurant operations through smart technology, the importance of integrating operational expertise with data systems, and the critical impact of employee retention on profitability. Discover how to balance cutting-edge technology with genuine hospitality to create sustainable growth and outstanding guest experiences.* Connect with Ken Baker on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/kenbaker3/)* Visit Hawkers Website (https://eathawkers.com/)Connect with the Show* Connect with Rich Sweeney on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/chefrichsweeney/)* Connect with Marc Cohen on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/marc-cohen-56b2424/)* R365 on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/restaurant365software/)* R365 on X (https://x.com/restaurant_365)* R365 on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/restaurant365-cloud-erp-for-restaurants)* R365 on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/restaurant365/)Helpful Links* Visit California Fish Grill Website (https://www.cafishgrill.com/)* Visit Restaurant365 Website (https://www.restaurant365.com/)

In this episode of Behind the Numbers, we sit down with Paul Potvin, CFO of California Fish Grill (https://www.cafishgrill.com/), to explore how the West Coast seafood brand scaled from 1 to 58 locations — without losing its culture or control. From AVT food costing and time-based labor studies to kiosks that boost accuracy and a flexible supply chain built for resilience, Paul shares actionable strategies every operator should hear.In this episode:* How to use data to optimize food and labor costs* Why time studies are a game changer for scheduling* How kiosks improved both guest experience and operations* Building plant-based seafood offerings without diluting your brand* What it really takes to scale sustainably in today’s marketWhether you’re running one store or fifty, this episode is packed with insights to help you grow smarter.Listen now and learn why behind every great restaurant, there’s a CFO who knows the numbers and the people.Connect with the Guests* Connect with Paul Potvin on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-potvin-74a32014/)* California Fish Grill on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/californiafishgrill/)* California Fish Grill on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/CaliforniaFishGrill/)* California Fish Grill on Twitter (https://x.com/CAFishGrill)* California Fish Grill on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjZpygl3YUZNGyjrS0vn8Tg)Connect with the Show* Connect with Rich Sweeney on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/chefrichsweeney/)* Connect with Marc Cohen on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/marc-cohen-56b2424/)* R365 on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/restaurant365software/)* R365 on X (https://x.com/restaurant_365)* R365 on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/restaurant365-cloud-erp-for-restaurants)* R365 on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/restaurant365/)Helpful Links* Visit California Fish Grill Website (https://www.cafishgrill.com/)* Visit Restaurant365 Website (https://www.restaurant365.com/)

On this episode of Behind the Numbers by Restaurant365, hosts Marc Cohen and Rich Sweeney sit down with award-winning chef and Mina Group founder Michael Mina and the company’s CEO Jason Himber. Together, they explore the keys to modern restaurant leadership, including motivating today’s workforce, fostering a culture of accountability, and scaling operations without sacrificing quality. They also discuss how restaurants can adapt post-pandemic and redefine the dining experience to meet evolving guest expectations.Connect with the Guests* Connect with Michael Mina on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-mina-070358105/)* Connect with Jason Himber on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonhimber/)Connect with the Hosts* Connect with Rich Sweeney on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/chefrichsweeney/)* Connect with Marc Cohen on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/marc-cohen-56b2424/)Helpful Links* Visit Mina Group Website (https://theminagroup.com/)* Visit Restaurant365 Website (https://www.restaurant365.com/)

How does a teenage busboy become the owner of multiple IHOP locations? In this episode of Behind the Numbers, Walid Jamal, President of JHG Restaurants, shares his inspiring journey from entry-level employee to multi-unit franchisee. Walid reveals the strategies that helped him succeed— from building strong employee relationships to leveraging technology like Restaurant365 to streamline operations and scale his business. He also discusses the role of community initiatives like National Pancake Day in blending business growth with social impact.Tune in as hosts Marc Cohen and Rich Sweeney uncover the mindset, tools, and strategies that drive success in the restaurant industry.Want to get behind your restaurant’s numbers? Reach out to our team today (https://r365.info/3ECcD1q)!Connect with Walid Jamal* Connect with Walid Jamal on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/walid-j-228911232/overlay/photo/)Connect with the Hosts* Follow Marc Cohen on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/marc-cohen-56b2424/)* Follow Rich Sweeney on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/chefrichsweeney/)Connect with Restaurant365* Follow Restaurant365 on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/restaurant365-cloud-erp-for-restaurants/posts/?feedView=all)* Follow Restaurant365 on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/restaurant365software)* Follow Restaurant365 on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/restaurant365/)* Follow Restaurant365 on X (https://x.com/Restaurant_365)